How Can I Groom My Dog At Home?

Does Grooming My Dog Help With Bonding?

Our grooming notions often conjure up images of Fifi the Poodle being primped by the pros or dog show contestants being made over before their time in the spotlight. In reality, grooming originated in the wild. Wolves and other wild canines regularly groom each other, using their front teeth like combs. They will also lick each other’s ears, faces, and other areas to help their pack mates clean otherwise hard-to-reach places. The skin stimulation and repetitive motion relax the animals, so they appear to look forward to their grooming periods.

Recent studies suggest that most mammals, including non-human primates, socially bond during grooming. It is a literal “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” unspoken agreement.

Grooming a dog also creates a potentially vulnerable situation for your dog, requiring a certain level of trust.

Therefore, to your dog, the grooming process means much more than a quick cleaning. As author and trainer Kathy Diamond Davis of Oklahoma City, Okla. advises, “You can use this time to strengthen your relationship with your dog and cement what will hopefully be a lifelong friendship.” 

Can I Groom My Dog Myself?

When the employer of New York Marketing, Executive Laurie Bromley, began making budget cuts last year, her monthly business trips to Los Angeles became a thing of the past, and so did her 4-year-old Dachshund’s overnight stays at the dog spa and hotel. “I always had them give Bams a bath at the end of his visit,” she says, “but now that I’m not traveling anymore, I’ve stopped taking him altogether.”

While professional groomers may offer convenience, expertise, and a more finished look, your dog can benefit from do-it-yourself grooming, provided you follow some expert advice. Below, Debbie Felder, owner of California-based Bowser’s Natural Pet Grooming and a product tester for grooming product company Bamboo Pet, offers home care tips for your furry friend’s coat, skin, nails, and teeth.

How Do You Groom a Difficult Dog?

Davis owns a Belgian Tervuren, which is a sizeable sheepdog-type breed, along with one other dog. The Tervuren, which had another home before hers, initially squirmed and whined during grooming sessions, not unlike a child getting its first haircuts. “This dog was just not having any of it,” said Davis.

She determined her Belgian friend, named Redeemer, needed some basic behavior training first. While he knew commands like “sit” and “lay down,” she further instilled these with positive reinforcements, like plenty of head pats and sweet talk. When Redeemer passed his mini obedience training sessions, Davis was able to groom him.

What Are the Steps in Grooming a Dog?

Step One: Get a Good Comb

Davis, the author of Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others (Dogwise Publishing), suggests that no matter what kind of dog you have, you should invest in a good comb like the FURminator. Look for a stainless steel comb that does not have any sharp points. “Rough handling and grooming harm the dog’s trust in being touched, and handling that is too tentative can do the same,” she said. “The feel of the comb against your dog’s skin has to fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum.” Brands that she likes include Chris Christensen combs and #1 All Systems combs and products.

She admits that some breeds may require a good brush, but that is mostly in preparation for the combing. By the end of the grooming session, you should be able to run a comb through your dog’s fur, especially if your pet is a long-haired breed. Davis also warns against using too many products, such as detanglers, shampoos, insecticides, and perfumes, since dog skin is susceptible. You may be doing your dog a favor if you keep such product purchases to a minimum.

Step Two: Groom Gently, Regularly and Thoroughly

Have your dog lie down, either on a non-slip surface, such as a special mat dedicated to this purpose, or even, as Davis recommends, on you. She ties a sheet around herself and has the dog lie on her outstretched legs. Davis begins with a rub-down massage, using her fingertips in a circular or back and forth motion all around the dog’s skin. Sometimes this step may be enough for short hair dogs that do not need a daily combing. The massage improves skin circulation and helps to distribute natural oils throughout your dog’s fur.

When combing, imagine that you are working out tangles in a young child’s hair. Hold sections of fur and slowly work from the end of the section up through the knot, careful not to scratch or pull. When a comb can run through the entire coat, a quick brushing can distribute oils again and serve as one final doggy massage.

In addition to fur maintenance, Davis also uses this time to check her dogs’ ears for dirt and parasites. When doing so, she massages the outside bottom of the ears, which seems to be a “sweet spot” for canines, perhaps because that is an area they target when one dog grooms another. She also clips her dogs’ toenails and checks their paws, eyes, and other areas. Davis additionally recommends placing apple cider vinegar on a tissue and swabbing it on your dog’s anal region to help prevent bacterial infections.

What may at first seem like torture to your dog will likely become a much-anticipated daily event. “Redeemer used to avoid me around grooming time, but now I have to keep him off of me because he wants to be groomed all day long,” she said. The proof of her dog’s trust is how she leaves him after each combing and cleaning session. Davis said, “He’s usually sleeping like a baby.”

• Brushing

Brushing your dog keeps its coat healthy and lush, stimulates circulation, gets rid of loose hair, and keeps mats at bay. Dogs shed more as the seasons change, and brushing every few days may be a good idea. Otherwise, every week or two is sufficient. If your dog is averse to brushing, Felder recommends carrying on a calm conversation with your canine companion. “If you’re tense, the dog can feel it,” Felder explains. “Take it slow. Tell it to relax. Give your dog a massage while you brush.”

She adds, “The best way to groom at home is to elevate your dog, putting it up high, such as on a table. The elevation takes the dog’s power away, letting them know you’re in charge.” The trick to getting rid of excess fuzz is to take off the loose coat first with a brush and then to follow that up with combing, which takes the mats out. A comb with rolling teeth is also a useful tool.

• Washing

Bathe your dog every four to six weeks, and always after proper brushing. “A wet coat glues to the skin, so you want to get the loose hairs out first,” advises Felder, who also suggests putting cotton in your dog’s ears before bathing to keep the water out. “Dogs are afraid of cold water, so never take them outside and hose them down. Always bathe them in warm water.”

To prepare for washing your dog, layout your bathing supplies in advance to streamline the bathing process. These should include a showerhead or pitcher, a diluted commercial all-natural shampoo (to make rinsing easier), and a towel or blow-dryer for drying. “I recommend shampooing your dog two times per bath,” says Felder. “They come out nicer.” She also suggests a post-bath comb-out to finish the look.

• Pedicuring

While dogs that spend a lot of time playing in yards and walking along sidewalks may not need regular nail trimming, less-active dogs should have their nails clipped about once a month to avoid overgrowth and even infection. You can buy special dog nail clippers since human clippers are generally not sharp enough for canines. Felder also recommends using an electric nail clipper, rotating stone, available at hardware stores. The stone grinds the animal’s nails down, so they’re not as sharp.

Choose a time when your dog tends to be relaxed. If you use a clipper, trim only nail tips to avoid cutting into the quick (the vein that runs into your dog’s nails). Avoiding the quick can be hard to do if your dog has black nails, making it all the more important to trim only the edge. If you do hit the vein, baking powder or cornstarch should stop the bleeding.

• Tooth Cleaning

Dogs need their teeth professionally cleaned twice a year to prevent bacteria from traveling from tooth tartar to their hearts. In between professional cleanings, you should also brush at home once or twice a week using a dog toothbrush and toothpaste formulated especially for dogs.

When your dog is sitting on an elevated surface like a table, hold its head firmly and open its mouth. Move the toothbrush in circular motions, starting in the back and making sure to brush at the gum line. Give your dog a crunchy and delicious treat when you finish, to reward for cooperation, and get that toothpaste taste out of its mouth.

Rules for Good Grooming

• Keep Grooming Fun 

Approach your dog when you are relaxed and in a good mood. Don’t get frustrated. Talk sweetly to your dog throughout the grooming session.

• Tread Lightly 

Learn from the mistakes professional groomers have made. Be gentle with your hands; keep water at a comfortable temperature, and don’t force your dog to remain in an uncomfortable position.

• Stop Sooner Rather Than Later